CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature and Studies

In this chapter, the researchers reviews previous literature

and studies related to the topic of the current study. The

sources of information reviewed were obtained from various

resources, including printed materials and the Internet. The

topics covered include the definition of Hollywood Movies,

Popularity of Hollywood Movies in the Philippines, Use of English

Language in the Philippines, and Issues on English Language

Fluency in the Philippines.

The literature was analyzed to provide insights and

information that would help the researcher in the pursuit of the

study. The author also presents a synthesis of the state-of-the-

art, the gap bridged by the study, and the theoretical and

conceptual frameworks, along with their corresponding paradigms.

The literature reviewed is relevant to the current study and

provides useful insights and inputs that enrich the investigation

and understanding of the study's problem.

Hollywood Movies

Various online sources were examined for the sake of

assigning sufficiently a precise definition to the term "Movies".

According to Wikipedia, “Movies, also known as films, are a type

of visual communication which uses moving pictures and sound to

tell stories or teach people something.” Thus, it can be deduced

that movie is generally a recording combined of moving images and

sounds that are running in sequence, and which is displayed for

audience either through a TV screen, or a theatre screen, or

laptop screen, etc. Furthermore, movies represent stories of real

situations and people with the aim to get the viewers emotionally

engaged, or to raise awareness about some subject, or to educate

them about some issue.

However, according to Schwartz (2013) in her essay "Film and

History", "Film is like history and it is the archive of history

since 1895 and helps us think about history. But even more

suggestive, history is best imagined as an image". Schwartz's

essay underscores the importance of film and other visual media

as tools for understanding and interpreting history, and suggests

that we can learn a great deal about the past by engaging with

these forms of media in a critical and reflective way.

According to Wasko (2014), "Hollywood movies are a dominant

global form of popular culture, defined by their ability to

generate huge revenues and attract large audiences through their

distinctive styles and genres." Hollywood movies have a

significant impact on global popular culture, and they are often

characterized by their ability to generate large amounts of

revenue and attract audiences from all over the world. Hollywood

films are known for their distinctive styles and genres, which

often include action, comedy, romance, and science fiction. The

popularity of Hollywood movies has only increased over the years,

with the rise of streaming services and the ability to access

films from anywhere in the world.

Corrigan (2015) in his book "A Short Guide to Writing About

Film (9th Edition)" stated that "Hollywood movies are typically

big-budget, star-driven productions that aim to entertain and

appeal to a broad audience. They often rely on well-known genres,

such as action, romance, and comedy, and frequently feature

elaborate special effects and high production values." Hollywood

is known for producing big-budget films that often rely on star

power and recognizable genres to attract a broad audience. These

films are typically designed to be entertaining and enjoyable,

and they often feature elaborate special effects and high

production values. Hollywood has a long history of producing

successful movies that have become cultural touchstones, and the

industry continues to evolve and adapt to changing audience

tastes and technological advances.

Miller (2017) defines Hollywood movies as "a global

commodity that circulates across national and cultural

boundaries, adapting to local tastes and preferences while also

promoting a distinctive American way of life. They are a powerful

form of soft power, influencing how people around the world

perceive and interact with the United States." Hollywood films

are produced in the United States but are designed to appeal to

audiences around the world, and they are often adapted to local

tastes and preferences. These movies can promote a particular

vision of American life and culture, and they can influence how

people in other countries perceive and interact with the United

States. Hollywood movies are a significant part of America's soft

power, and they have played an important role in shaping global

perceptions of the United States.

"Hollywood movies are not simply entertainment, but are also

a reflection of the values, beliefs, and aspirations of the

society that produces them", argued by Doherty (2015). Hollywood

movies are not just a form of entertainment but also reflect the

values, beliefs, and aspirations of the society that produces

them. The themes, characters, and storylines of Hollywood movies

often reflect the cultural and social concerns of American

society, and the industry has played a significant role in

shaping and reinforcing certain cultural norms and values. For

example, Hollywood has often portrayed idealized versions of

American life and has promoted certain social and political

values, such as individualism, democracy, and freedom. At the

same time, Hollywood movies can also challenge these norms and
values and provide a platform for social and political

commentary.

Popularity of Hollywood Movies in the Philippines

According to an article published by The Manila Times in

2021, Hollywood movies continue to dominate the Philippine box

office. The article notes that American films accounted for nine

of the top ten highest-grossing movies in the country in 2020.

The article also point out that the COVID-19 pandemic had a

significant impact on the Philippine movie industry in 2020, with

cinemas closed for most of the year. However, Hollywood films

still managed to perform well in the Philippines, with some

movies even surpassing their box office performance in the United

States.

In an article published by The Philippine Star in 2020, it

was noted that Hollywood movies accounted for seven of the top

ten highest-grossing films in the country in 2019. The article

also notes that superhero movies, such as those in the Marvel

Cinematic Universe, were extremely popular in the Philippines,

contributing to Hollywood's dominance at the box office. The

article also discusses the challenges faced by the Philippine

film industry in competing with Hollywood movies. One of the

challenges is the limited marketing budgets of local films

compared to big-budget Hollywood productions, making it difficult

for local films to reach a wider audience.

A report published by the Motion Picture Association in 2019

noted that the Philippines was one of the fastest-growing film

markets in the Asia Pacific region, with box office revenue

increasing by 10% in 2018. The report also presented the

popularity of Hollywood movies in the country as a contributing

factor to this growth.

In the study of Chua and Villanueva (2015) entitled "Box

Office Performance of Hollywood Films in the Philippines: An

Analysis", it is perceived that Hollywood films consistently

dominated the local box office during the period studied. The

study also revealed that the top-grossing Hollywood films in the

Philippines during the period were typically action or adventure

films. The study provided insights into the dominance of

Hollywood films in the Philippine movie market, which has

implications for local film production and distribution.

Ordiales (2021) in his study "Hollywood’s Box Office Share

in the Philippines: A Comparative Study of 2018 and 2019 Data"

found that Hollywood films continued to dominate the local box

office in the Philippines during this period. In 2018, Hollywood

films accounted for 81.77% of the total box office revenue in the
country, while in 2019, Hollywood films accounted for 80.57% of

the total box office revenue.

Use of English Language in the Philippines

Gonzales (2017) stated that English is widely used in the

Philippines, particularly in urban areas, and it is considered a

symbol of status and prestige. There is variation in the use of

English across different social classes. The higher class or

elites tend to use a more standard form of English, while the

working class may use a more colloquial or casual form. The use

of English in everyday life is influenced by factors such as

education, occupation, age, gender, and ethnicity. Also, the use

of English in the Philippines is characterized by code-switching

and code-mixing with local languages, which reflects the

country's multilingual and multicultural society.

"English has been one of the official languages of the

Philippines since 1935, and it has remained a prominent language

in the country's educational and professional systems ever

since", said by Gonzalez (2019). Since then, English has been an

essential part of the Philippines' educational and professional

systems. English is used as the language of instruction in many

schools and universities across the country, and it is also the

primary language used in many business and professional settings.

 Mendoza (2021) claimed that, "English has become the

language of instruction in many Philippine universities,

particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering,

and mathematics". English is also the language of many academic

publications in STEM fields, and teaching in English allows

students to access these materials and communicate their research

findings more effectively with the international community.

According to Llorente (2017), "English proficiency is highly

valued in the Philippines, particularly in the job market, where

many companies require their employees to be fluent in the

language". English proficiency is highly valued in the

Philippines, especially in the business and job market. Many

companies require their employees to be proficient in English, as

it is the language of international business and commerce. The

ability to communicate effectively in English can open up more

job opportunities and lead to career advancement for Filipinos.

"English is also used in the media, particularly in

newspapers and television programs, and it is a common language

for business and diplomacy in the Philippines", argued by

Alcantara (2021). English is widely used in the media in the

Philippines, particularly in newspapers and television programs.

Many of the major newspapers and news channels in the country

publish and broadcast in English, as it is the language of

international communication and many Filipinos are proficient in

it.

Issues on English Language Fluency in the Philippines

In the article of Rubrico (2017), the government's policies

and guidelines for English language teaching in the Philippines

have been inconsistent and often lacking in clear direction,

which has contributed to challenges in implementing effective

English language teaching strategies. Furthermore, there are

several challenges faced by English language teachers in the

Philippines, including inadequate training and professional

development opportunities, limited access to resources, and a

lack of standardized assessment tools. These challenges are

further compounded by the fact that many English language

teachers in the Philippines are not native speakers of the

language.

Despite these challenges, Rubrico (2017) still identifies

several promising developments and prospects for the future of

English language teaching in the Philippines. These include the

increasing availability of technology and digital resources, the

growing interest in English language learning among Filipinos,

and the emergence of new and innovative teaching methods.

One major factor contributing to the lack of English

proficiency in the Philippines is the education system. The focus

on memorization and rote learning in many schools can limit the

development of critical thinking and communication skills, which

are essential for achieving fluency in any language, argued by

Saloma-Akpedonu (2014).

In addition to educational challenges, there are also

linguistic factors that can hinder English language development

in the Philippines according to Shahani (2018). Many Filipinos

speak Tagalog or other regional languages at home and in their

communities, which can limit exposure to English and make it more

difficult to develop fluency. The syntax and grammatical

structures of Tagalog and other regional languages differ from

those of English, which can make it difficult for Filipinos to

switch between the two languages.

Reyes (2019) also stated that there is a strong correlation

between English proficiency and academic success, highlighting

the importance of language skills for educational and

professional opportunities in the Philippines. Being proficient

in English may enhance one's ability to communicate with people

from different backgrounds, thereby facilitating cross-cultural

communication and collaboration. This, in turn, may lead to

greater professional success and networking opportunities.

Synthesis of the State of the Art

 The current study utilized the knowledge and understanding

obtained from previous studies to examine and assess the

effectiveness of Hollywood Movies to the English language fluency

of Grade 12 students in Alfelor Sr. Memorial College Inc.

The related studies and online articles about the definition

of Hollywood movies like Wikipedia defines movies as a form of

visual communication that employs moving pictures and sound to

narrate stories or provide education, usually about real-life

events or people, and designed to elicit an emotional response or

raise awareness of certain issues to the viewers. Schwartz (2013)

draws a parallel between film and history, arguing that since

1895, film has served as an archive of history, providing an

opportunity to reflect and think about historical events. Wasko

(2014) notes that Hollywood movies are a leading form of popular

culture worldwide, recognized for their unique styles and genres

that attract large audiences and generate substantial revenues.

In "A Short Guide to Writing About Film (9th Edition)," Corrigan

(2015) describes Hollywood movies as big-budget productions with

well-known genres, star-driven casts, and high production values,

intended to entertain and appeal to a broad audience. Miller

(2017) characterizes Hollywood movies as a global commodity that

is able to cross cultural and national boundaries by catering to

local preferences while also promoting an idealized version of

American life. Doherty (2015) stated that Hollywood movies are

more than just entertainment, as they mirror the values, beliefs,

and aspirations of the society that creates them.

Related articles about the popularity of Hollywood movies in

the Philippines like an article published by The Manila Times

(2020) which reports that Hollywood movies remained the top-

grossing films in the Philippines, with nine out of the top ten

highest-grossing movies being American productions. The

Philippine Star (2020) states that Hollywood films were dominant

in the Philippine box office in 2019, with seven out of the top

ten highest-grossing movies being American productions. Motion

Picture Association (2019) reports that the Philippines had one

of the fastest-growing film markets in the Asia Pacific region,

with box office revenue increasing by 10% in 2018, and the report

attributed some of this growth to the popularity of Hollywood

movies in the country. Chua and Villanueva (2015) in their study

"Box Office Performance Analysis of Hollywood Films in the

Philippines" found that Hollywood films were consistently the top

earners at the local box office during the studied period, and

that the most successful Hollywood films were typically action or

adventure movies. In his research "Hollywood's Box Office Share

in the Philippines: A Comparative Study of 2018 and 2019 Data,"

Ordiales (2021) discovered that during this period, Hollywood

movies continued to dominate the Philippine box office.

 The relevant studies about the use of English language in

the Philippines like Gonzales (2017) about the wide use of

English in urban areas of the Philippines and is associated with

status and prestige. Gonzalez (2019) said that English has been

an official language in the Philippines since 1935 and has

remained a vital language in the country's education and

professional systems. According to Mendoza (2021), many

Philippine universities have adopted English as the language of

instruction, particularly in STEM fields. Llorente (2017) noted

that being proficient in English is highly valued in the

Philippine job market, as many companies require their employees

to be fluent in the language. Alcantara (2021) argued that the

media industry in the Philippines widely uses English, especially

in newspapers and television programs, and that it is also a

common language for business and diplomacy.

The related studies pertaining to the issues on English

language fluency in the Philippines such as Rubrico (2017) in the

highlight that the inconsistent policies and guidelines set by

the government for English language teaching in the Philippines

have created obstacles in implementing effective teaching

methods. Saloma-Akpedonu (2014) argued that the educational

system is one of the significant contributors to the insufficient

English proficiency in the Philippines. Shahani (2018) pointed

out that linguistic factors can also impede English language

development in the Philippines in addition to educational

challenges. According to Reyes (2019), having strong English

skills is crucial for academic and professional success in the

Philippines.

Gap Bridged by the Study

The studies reviewed did not specifically address the

effectiveness of Hollywood movies in improving the English

language fluency of Grade 12 students in Alfelor Sr. Memorial

College. This research gap has been addressed by the present

study, which aimed to determine the impact of Hollywood movies on

the language proficiency of Grade 12 students. The study intended

to assess whether the use of Hollywood movies as a supplementary

material in English language classes would lead to improved

language proficiency among students.

Theoretical Framework

Input Hypothesis (Krashen, 1977). This theory suggests that

language acquisition occurs when learners are exposed to language

input that is slightly beyond their current level of competence.

In the context of Hollywood movies, this theory would suggest

that students who watch movies in English with subtitles or who

listen to English dialogue in movies without subtitles are

exposed to input that is slightly beyond their current level of

English proficiency, which can help them improve their language

skills.

The Output Theory (Swain, 1985). This theory states that

language acquisition occurs not only through input but also

through output, that is, when learners attempt to produce

language. Hollywood movies may provide students with

opportunities to practice their speaking and listening skills by

imitating the dialogues, intonations, and accents they hear in

the movies. By producing language, students may internalize the

language rules and structures more effectively.

Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky, 1962). This emphasizes the

role of social interaction and cultural context in language

learning. According to this theory, language learning occurs

through participation in social activities and interactions that

involve language use. In the context of Hollywood movies, this

theory would suggest that students who watch movies in English

with friends or family members, or who discuss the movies with

others, are more likely to improve their English language skills

than those who watch movies alone.

Affective Filter Hypothesis (Krashen, 1985). This suggests

that learners' emotional states can impact their ability to

acquire a new language. In the context of Hollywood movies, this

theory would suggest that students who enjoy watching movies in

English are more likely to improve their language skills than

those who find it stressful or unpleasant. Therefore, creating a

positive and enjoyable experience around watching English movies

could help students to lower their affective filter and improve

their language acquisition.

The Motivation Theory (Gardner, 1985). This theory implies

that learners who are motivated to learn a language are more

likely to succeed in language acquisition. In the case of

learning English, watching Hollywood movies can provide a fun and

engaging way for students to interact with the language. By

enjoying movies in English, students may become more motivated to

improve their language skills and become more proficient in the

language. Additionally, students may find that the English they

learn from watching movies is more relevant to their everyday

lives and experiences than the language they learn in the

classroom.